When Michael Stands Up

WHEN MICHAEL STANDS UP

Ezra's Sixth Vision
2 Esdras Chapter 13

In my dream, a wind [The WINDS] arose from the sea and set all its waves in turmoil. As I watched, the wind brought a figure like that of a man out of the depths, and he flew with the clouds of heaven. Wherever he turned his face, everything he looked at trembled, and wherever the sound of his voice reached, everyone who heard it melted as wax at the touch of fire.

Next I saw a countless host of men gathering from the four winds of heaven to vanquish the man who had come up out of the sea. I saw that the man hewed out for himself a great mountain, and flew on to it. [Previous mountain location before the new land.] Though I tried to see from what region or place the mountain had been taken, I could not [because it had been burned up]. Then I saw that all who had gathered to fight against the man were greatly afraid, and yet they dared to fight [through their aggressive and offensive e-mails]. When he saw the hordes advancing to the attack, he did not so much as lift a finger against them. He had no spear in his hand, no weapon at all; only, as I watched, he poured out what appeared to be a stream of fire from his mouth, a breath of flame from his lips with a storm of sparks from his tongue [as he answered those e-mails with judgment]. These, the stream of fire, the breath of flame, and the great storm, combined into one mass which fell on the host prepared for battle, and burnt them all up. Of that enormous multitude suddenly nothing was to be discerned but dust and ashes and a reek of smoke [Nothing was left of their arguments]. I was astounded at the sight.

After that, I saw the man come down from the mountain and summon to himself a different, a peaceful company [than those with whom He had to contend previously]. He was joined by great numbers of men, some with joy on their faces, others with sorrow, some coming from captivity, and some bringing others to him as an offering [the two witnesses were given]. I woke up overcome by terror, and I prayed to the Most High: O Lord, from first to last you have revealed those wonders to me, and judged me worthy to have my prayers answered. Now show me the meaning of this dream also. How terrible it will be, to my thinking, for all who survive to those days, but how much worse for those who do not? Those who do not survive will have the sorrow of knowing what the last days have in store, yet without attaining it. Those who do survive are to be pitied for the terrible dangers and many trials which those visions show they will have to face. But perhaps after all it is better to endure the dangers and reach the goal than to vanish from the world like a cloud and never see what will happen at the last.

Yes, he replied, I shall disclose the meaning of the vision, and tell you what you ask. To your question about those who survive, the answer is this: the very person [Michael] from whom danger will then come [when He stands up] will protect those exposed to the danger if they have good deeds and faith laid up to their credit with God Most Mighty. ["But at that time, your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book of God's plan for His own." Dan. 12:1 Amplified.] You may rest assured that those who survive are more blessed than those who have died.

This is what the vision means: the man you saw coming up from the heart of the sea is he (Michael) whom the Most High has held in readiness during many ages; through him he will deliver the world he has made, and he (Michael) will determine the destiny of those who survive. As for the breath of flame, the fire, and the storm you saw issuing from the mouth of the man, so that without spear or any other weapon in his hand he crushed the onslaught of the hordes advancing to fight against him, the meaning is this: the day is near when the Most High will start bringing deliverance to those on earth. Its panic-stricken inhabitants will plot hostilities against one another, city against city, region against region, nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom. [The nations will be ready to blow. “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places.” Matt 24:7.] When that happens, and all the signs that I have shown you take place, then my son (Michael) will be revealed, he whom you saw as a man coming up out of the sea [people]. [“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Dan 12:1.] At the sound of his voice all nations will leave their own territories and their separate wars, and unite as you saw in your vision in one large host past counting, all intent on overpowering him.

When he takes his stand [in the new land] on the summit of Mount Zion, then Zion, completed and fully built [at the beginning of the year of rest 2000 the city in the new land was finished, Michael standing up was concurrent with this], will come and appear before all people [with Michael], corresponding to the mountain which you saw hewn out, though not by human hands. [The new land is a hewn out land, hewn out by the waters of many generations]. My son will convict of their godless deeds the nations that confront him; this will accord with the storm you saw. He will reproach them to their face with their evil plotting and the torments they are soon to undergo; this is symbolized by the flame. And he will destroy them without effort by means of the law (Word) - and that is like the fire.

You saw him assemble a company which was different and peaceful [in the new land]. They are the ten tribes [the completion of Israel] that were taken into exile in the days of King Hoshea, whom King Shalmaneser of Assyria made captive. Carrying them off beyond the river Euphrates, he deported them to a foreign country. But then they resolved to leave behind the gentile [unbelieving] population and go to a more distant region never yet inhabited, [uninhabited pasture land where they now dwell] and there at least to be obedient to their laws, which in their own country they had failed to keep. As they passed through the narrow passages of the Euphrates (that which makes fruitful), the Most High performed miracles for them, halting the flow of the river until they had crossed over [halting those things which would hinder their journey through the channel of fruitfulness. “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east (rising of the sun) might be prepared." Rev. 16:12]. Their long journey through that region called Arzareth (another land) took a year and a half. They have lived there ever since, until this final age [remaining time]. Now they are on their way back, and once more the Most High is halting the river to let them cross [into their fruitfulness and deliverance].

That is the meaning of the peaceful company you saw assembled. With them too are the survivors of your own people, all who are found inside my sacred borders. When the time comes, therefore, for him to destroy the assembled nations, he will protect those of your people who are left, and then display to them countless portents [in the stars and other places].

My master and lord, I said, explain to me why the man I saw came up out of the heart of the sea. He replied: it is beyond the power of anyone to explore the deep sea and discover what is in it; in the same way no one on earth can set eyes on my son and those [clouds of angels] who accompany him until the appointed day. Such then is the meaning of your vision. This revelation has been given to you, and to you alone, because you have laid aside your own affairs, and devoted yourself entirely to mine and to the study of my law (Word). You have taken wisdom as your guide in life, and you have called understanding your mother. That is why I have given this revelation to you: there is a reward for you with the Most High. END

For the Lord put on righteousness as a breastplate or coat of mail, and salvation as a helmet upon His head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal and furious divine jealousy as a cloak. According as their deeds deserve, so will He repay wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; on the foreign islands and coastlands He will make compensation. So as the result of the Messiah's intervention they shall reverently fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives. He shall come as a Redeemer to Zion and to those in Jacob (Israel) who turn from transgression, says the Lord. As for Me, this is My covenant or league with them, says the Lord; My Spirit, Who is upon you and Who writes the law of God inwardly on the heart, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your true, spiritual children, or out of the mouths of your children's children, says the Lord, from henceforth and forever. Arise from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you – rise to a new life! Shine, be radiant with the glory of the Lord, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen [dawned] upon you! For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness all peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you O Jerusalem, and His glory shall be seen on you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about and see! They all gather themselves together, they come to you. Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried and nursed in the arms. Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and tremble with joy at the glorious deliverance and be enlarged; because the abundant wealth of the Dead Sea shall be turned to you, unto you shall the nations come with their treasures.” Isa. 59:17-21;60:1-5 Amplified.